Furcal officialy re-signs with Dodgers

Dec 20, 2008 - 2:31 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Rafael Furcal and the Los Angeles Dodgers are officially back together.

After a month filled with speculation and conflicting reports over the free-agent shortstop's eventual destination, the Dodgers confirmed on Friday that they have re-signed Furcal to a three-year contract.

"You can't overestimate Raffy's value to the team," manager Joe Torre said. "He brings so much more to the table than just his ability to play the game. The players feed off his energy and I think he's an integral piece of the puzzle. I look forward to having that leadership in a Dodger uniform for the next several years."

Though the team did not disclose financial terms, multiple published reports have said that the deal is worth $33 million.

Furcal has spent the last three seasons with the Dodgers after inking a three-year deal prior to the 2006 campaign.

"Raffy has proven to be a very important player for us over the last three seasons," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "He sets a great example with his enthusiasm and passion for the game and his teammates."

Friday's announcement conclusively brings to a close what had become a circus-like atmosphere around Furcal.

FoxSports.com reported on Tuesday that Furcal had agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with the Atlanta, where he spent the first six seasons of his career.

However, the deal was apparently nothing more than a "gentleman's agreement," and Furcal and his agent, Paul Kinzer, decided to re-open talks with the Dodgers.

In fact, Kinzer told reporters in New York on Wednesday that "things are swinging back toward the Dodgers, probably."

Kinzer did a fantastic job of playing the Braves and Dodgers against each other, having said Tuesday that - while no deal had been reached - the Braves were the "favorite."

In a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution earlier this week, Braves general manager John Schuerholz called Furcal's agents' behavior during negotiations "disgusting" and said that the Braves would never again deal with the Wasserman Media Group.

"Having been in this business for 40-some years, I've never seen anybody treated like that," Schuerholz told The Constitution. "The Atlanta Braves will no longer do business with that company - ever. I told (agent) Arn Tellem that we can't trust them to be honest and forthright. I told him that in all my years, I've never seen any (agency) act in such a despicable manner."

The Athletics also were in the mix entering this week and reportedly offered Furcal a four-year deal in the $40 million range.

Furcal left the Braves after the 2005 season to sign a three-year, $39 million free-agent contract with the Dodgers.

A .286 lifetime hitter with 259 steals, Furcal played in just 36 games last season because of a back injury that eventually required surgery.

He returned to the lineup in late September and helped lead the Dodgers to the National League Championship Series, where they were dispatched by the eventual champion Philadelphia Phillies.

He hit .357 on the year with five homers and 16 RBI.